AN APPARATUS FOR DIRECTING A SPRAY NOZZLE

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for directing a spray nozzle. The nozzle (1) is mounted in a gimbals suspension (2) for rotation in the horizontal direction and vertical direction with the aid of drive means (3). According to the invention, a position pin is connected to the nozzle (1) for cooperation with a limit governor device (6H) for controlling the movement of the nozzle within a variable outer limit. The limit governor device comprises two limit governor frames which act on the drive means. The aperture of the limit governor frames can be varied in size and configuration by the securement of different masks of fixed size or by adjustment of the inner edges of the limit governor frames. The movement of the nozzle (1) is preferably realised by two hydraulic cylinders (10) which are driven by the same medium as is to pass through the nozzle (1). The valve system for controlling each respective hydraulic cylinder is integrated with the cylinder to form a unit.

Description: INVENTION: AN APPARATUS FOR DIRECTING A SPRAY NOZZLE TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to an apparatus for directing a spray nozzle. The apparatus may be employed for dispersing various media under pressure, using a movable nozzle. The present invention makes possible setting of the spray movement in irregular patterns. The nozzle is mounted in a gimbals suspension. The movement is realised preferably by hydraulic cylinders which are driven by the medium to be sprayed. BACKGROUND ART Apparatuses of this type are previously known in the art. Normally, the movement of the spray nozzle is regular, i.e. the spread of liquid takes place universally within the outer limit positions of the nozzle. The drawback inherent in this procedure is that areas which are not to be sprayed within the spray range of the nozzle must be protected, for example be covered with plastic. Alternatively, a plurality of spray nozzles can spray the region surrounding the area which is not to be sprayed. Further, operation of the movements of the nozzle is effected in the prior art apparatuses by means of electric motors and / or separate hydraulic/ pneumatic systems. The drawback inherent in this procedure is that operational disruptions as a result of damp and moisture may readily occur in electric parts, and that encapsulation of such equipment is expensive. In addition, large-scale equipment is required for two or more power systems, for example electricity, compressed air, compressed fluid etc. Patent specification DE 2425475 further discloses a nozzle apparatus in which the nozzle is mounted in a gimbals suspension. The nozzle is rotated in the gimbals suspension in order to increase the distribution angle of the nozzle. It is not possible to achieve any degree of precision in spraying, since the jet is quite wide. On the other hand, if use is made of a thin jet in this apparatus, a hole would appear in the centre of the spray pattern. The present invention solves the problems inherent in the prior art technology in that the nozzle is mounted in a gimbals suspension. The outer limit positions of the nozzle can be restricted thanks to replaceable or adjustable frames which control the movement of the nozzle. Movement of the nozzle is preferably catered for with the aid of hydraulic cylinders which are powered by the medium to be sprayed. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Thus, the present invention realises an apparatus for directing a spray nozzle which is mounted in a gimbals suspension for rotation in the horizontal direction and vertical direction with the aid of drive means. According to the invention, a position pin is connected to the nozzle and cooperates with a limit governor for guiding the movement of the nozzle within a variable outer limit. The limit governor preferably comprises two governor frames in which the position pin projects and which act upon their respective drive means for the movement of the nozzle. The aperture of the limit governor frames may be varied in size and configuration by the fixing of different masks or by adjustment of the inner edges of the limit governor frames. Preferably, the drive means comprise two hydraulic cylinders for rotating the nozzle in the horizontal direction and vertical direction, respectively. The invention is more closely defined in the appended Claims. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS The present invention will now be described in greater detail hereinbelow, with particular reference to the accompanying Drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 2 is a partly cut-away view of the gimbals suspension according to one embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 3 is a partly cut-away view of gimbals suspension for showing the governor arms according to the invention; Fig.4 is a detailed view of one governor arm with a separate mask; Fig. 4A is a cross sectional view of one preferred embodiment of the gimbals suspension according to the invention; Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a hydraulic cylinder according to one embodiment of the present invention; and Figs. 6A and B are views, partly in cross section, of the design and construction of the cylinder. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ONE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Fig. 1 thus shows an apparatus according to the invention for spreading or dispersing media under pressure. The apparatus hence comprises a nozzle 1 which is mounted in a construction 2 movable in gimbals fashion. Drive means 3 realise the movement of the nozzle in the horizontal direction and the vertical direction. The medium under pressure is supplied to the nozzle via a hose 4 and a connection (not shown) to the drive means 3. The pressure of the medium thus provides the power for driving the apparatus. Fig. 2 shows the gimbals suspension 2 in greater detail. It consists of a fixed body or frame 25, a first, outer portion 23 rotary about a vertical axis and a second, inner portion 24 which is secured to the first portion and may be rotated about a horizontal axis. The nozzle 1 is secured to the second portion. A position pin 5 is also connected to the second portion. Thus, the position pin moves in the same manner as the nozzle 1. It will be apparent from Fig. 3 that the position pin 5 extends through two governor frames 6V and 6H. At the outer positions of the position pin 5, it strikes against each respective governor frame which in turn acts on the drive means via their governor arm 7V and 7H. The governor arm 7H for horizontal control rotates about its suspension point and thereby moves a reversal device 12 on the drive means, as will be described in greater detail hereinbelow. Naturally, the same applies to the second governor frame 6V for the vertical direction. The spray pattern is thus governed by the inner edges of the limit governor frames 6H and 6V. The aperture of the frames may be varied in size and configuration in different ways. Fig.4 shows how an extra governor plate or mask 6' may be screwed in place on a governor frame. The abutment edges 8 may, in such instance, be given the desired configuration. It is also possible to provide the governor frames with adjustable abutment edges, for example with the aid of adjustment screws (not shown). By providing suitable speeds for the movements in the horizontal direction and vertical direction, the position pin 5 moves throughout the entire region within the abutment edges 8 of the limit governor frames 6. The frames can besides be designed in many different ways, for example in the form of frames as shown on the Drawings, but also in the form of forks and stirrups etc. Fig. 4A shows one preferred embodiment of the connection of the position pin to the gimbals suspension 2. In order to increase the reaction capabilities of the gimbals suspension, the position pin 5 is loosely journalled with the aid of a ball 22 at a point proximal to the point of intersection for the vertical and horizontal axes of rotation. The journalling may also be achieved using cones and rings, and the like. The position pin 5 projects out through a rectangular aperture 20 in the side of the inner, movable portion 23 opposed to the side of the nozzle. The movement of the gimbals suspension is transferred to the position pin 5 by the edges of the aperture 20. In Fig.4A, the horizontal axis of rotation is marked by + about which the inner movable portion is rotated. At the same time, the inner portion 24 may rotate about a vertical axis in that the outer portion 23 is journalled in the fixed frame or body 25. The journalling is provided with an upper sleeve 16 and a lower sleeve 17. A rod 21 runs through the sleeves 16 and 17, the rod being movable in the vertical direction and capable of rotating about the vertical axis. A fork 19 is fixedly secured to the rod 21 and entrains a rod 18 secured to the inner portion 24. The inner portion 24 is thus rotated about the horizontal axis by moving the rod 21 in the vertical direction. The movement of the rod 21 is realised by the drive means 3 via a mechanical coupling (not shown) to the rod 21. The mechanical coupling may include gear wheels, gear racks and the like. The drive means 3 are secured to the same base plate 9 as the gimbals suspension 2 and consist of two hydraulic cylinders 10. The mechanical movement is transmitted to the gimbals suspension via linkage connections on the piston rod 11 of each respective cylinder or via gear wheels and gear racks disposed on each respective piston rod (not shown). Fig. 5 shows a perspective view of a hydraulic cylinder 10. From the hydraulic cylinder, the piston rod 11 and the governor arm 7H extend to the gimbals suspension 2. The hydraulic cylinder also includes a control device 12 which is actuated by the governor arm 7H for controlling the valve slides of the hydraulic cylinder, as will be described with reference to Fig. 6A and 6B. A spring 13 is provided on the control device 12 for actuating this device when the piston is in its end position, where a dead point may otherwise occur. Figs. 6A and 6B show the hydraulic cylinder partly in section. The hydraulic cylinder 10 includes a valve body and a cylinder housing in the same material piece, preferably of plastic material. The end walls 14 are joined by through bolts. The control device 12 actuates four valve slides 15, two in each end wall, and regulates the valve cones 15a in their two positions. The spring 13 (Fig. 5) drives the control device 12 when the valve is located in the dead point. Since the valve is regulated by power from the piston rod of the cylinder via the gimbals suspension and via the limit governor frames 6 and governor arms 7, a dead point occurs when the valve cones 15a are located midway between the end positions and thus no longer control the liquid flow. In Fig.6A, the piston moves to the right and the fluid flow is as shown by the arrows. The left-hand valve cones 15a thus close their apertures and the right-hand valve cones 15a are open. In Fig. 6B the control device has reversed the valve slides 15 and the piston moves in the other direction. The flow out and in from the hydraulic cylinder is naturally directed in the same direction irrespective of the movement of the piston. The hydraulic cylinder can per se be driven both as a pump and hydraulic cylinder. When two hydraulic cylinders are to control a spray nozzle according to the present invention, both of the cylinders are driven by the medium which is to be sprayed. In such instance, the medium may pass from the outlet of the cylinders to the spray nozzle but preferably the flow is branched, for example by means of a T coupling in the base plate 9 and the medium is transported via a flexible hose 4 to the nozzle and separate hoses (not shown) to the cylinders whose outlet goes to a discharge. The speeds of the cylinders are controlled by providing throttle washers or needle valves at their inlet and/ or outlet. The hydraulic cylinder 10 with valve system according to the present invention is designed and constructed to be used as a prime mover or pump and has no conduits and connections between valves and cylinder, which minimises leakage and space requirements. This also entails only two ports: one inlet and one outlet, i.e. two connections. The valve pairs 15 are mounted pairwise in the end walls 14 and the flow paths (the channels) are laid such that production costs will be low, at the same time as this design and construction give excess pressure on the alternatingly closed valve pair and thereby hold them in the closed position without external mechanical force. Thanks to the simple design and construction, the valve/ cylinder housing is advantageously manufactured from a suitable plastic material in order to obtain high resistance to acidic and/ or basic media, and to realise low manufacturing costs. The cones 15a of the valves are of greater area than the valve slides (the valve rods) in order to obtain compression on the closed valves. One practical application of the hydraulic cylinder according to the present invention is to be able to employ two identical hydraulic cylinder valves in order to obtain a well-functioning, economical and operationally dependable pump for pumping up washing chemicals. The one cylinder is driven by water under pressure. By coupling its piston rod to the second cylinder, the second cylinder can operate as a pump. Thus, the present invention provides an apparatus for spreading or dispersing different media under pressure, with a possibility for accurate determination of the spray pattern, and reliable design and construction. Examples of media which can be sprayed are liquids, for example water, chemicals, solvents, washing liquid, a mixture of chemicals and air to create foam, and also gases such as those involved in sand blasting. The nozzle 1 may also be of different types, with controllable jet width or fixed spray nozzles, jet nozzles etc. The scope of the present invention is limited solely by the appended Claims.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. An apparatus for directing a spray nozzle (1) which is mounted in a gimbals suspension (2) for rotation in the horizontal direction and the vertical direction with the aid of drive means (3), characterized by a position pin (5) which is connected to the nozzle (1) and which cooperates with a limit governor device (6N, 6H) for controlling the movement of the nozzle (1) within a variable outer limit. 2. The apparatus as claimed in Claim 1, characterized in that the limit governor device comprises two limit governor frames (6H, 6N), one for governing in the horizontal direction and one for governing in the vertical direction, in which the position pin (5) projects and which actuate their respective drive means (10) for the horizontal and vertical movement of the nozzle (1). 3. The apparatus as claimed in Claim 2, characterized in that the aperture of the governor frames (6) may be varied in size and configuration by the securement of dif erent masks (6') of fixed size. 4. The apparatus as claimed in Claim 2, characterized in that the governor frames have adjustable inner edges for varying the aperture of the limit governor frames in size and configuration. 5. The apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims, characterized in that the position pin (5) is loosely journalled at the gimbals suspension (2) at a point proximal to the point of intersection of its vertical and horizontal intersection axes, the position pin (5) projecting out from a rectangular hole (20) in an inner portion (24) of the gimbals suspension (2). 6. The apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims, characterized in that said drive means include two hydraulic cylinders (10) for rotating the nozzle in the horizontal direction and vertical direction, respectively. 7. The apparatus as claimed in Claim 6, characterized in that the hydraulic cylinders are driven by the medium which is to be sprayed out of the nozzle (1). 8. The apparatus as claimed in any one of Claims 2 to 7, characterized in that the limit governor frames (6V, 6H) actuate the valve slide (15) of their respective hydraulic cylinder. 9. A gimbals suspension comprising a fixed body (25) which carries an outer movable portion (23) which in turn carries an inner portion (24) movable at right angles to the outer portion (23), characterized in that the , outer portion (23) is journalled in the body (25) which two sleeves (16, 17) through which a movable rod (21) runs for realising the movement of the inner movable portion (24). 10. A hydraulic cylinder arrangement comprising a cylinder and a piston reciprocal therein, and a valve system with flow paths in which valve slides (15) are placed for controlling the hydraulic medium to the cylinder and the piston, characterized in that the valve system and the cylinder are integrated to form a unit. 11. The hydraulic cylinder arrangement as claimed in Claim 10, characterized in that the valve system has only two ports viz. one inlet and one outlet. 12. The hydraulic cylinder arrangement as claimed in Claim 10 or 11, characterized in that the valve slides (15) are disposed in pairs, each pair consisting of one valve cone (15a) for pressurising the cylinder and one valve cone (15a) for depressurising the cylinder on either side of the piston, and each pair catering for the movement direction of the piston. 13. The hydraulic cylinder arrangement as claimed in any one of Claims 10 to 12, characterized in that the hydraulic medium under pressure forces the valve cones towards their seats in their closed positions. 14. The hydraulic cylinder arrangement as claimed in any one of Claims 10 to 13, characterized in that it can optionally operate as a pump or drive means.

Inventors: EKEBLOM ULF, EKEBLOM, ULF
Applicants: EKEBLOM ULF, EKEBLOM, ULF
Application year: 1994
Main classification: B05B15
IPC codes: B05B15